I have been living with a chronic illness for 25 years, since age 11. I have tried different things to help with pain, but after 7 years on massive pain killers, got many side effects that were HORRIBLE I have worked to try to get through the days and have been much more successful recently (6 months) due to some retraining by the Mayo clinic's pain rehab center. How do you deal with your pain/ What are some things that work for you/ I would love to discuss this.

I've had some success with pain control in different areas. So far have used physical therapy, surgery, massage, dead sea salts, and a few others. But I think it depends what type of pain you have. Can you specify?

I have diffuse body pain as I have arthritis, fibro, among other things. I used to take many pain meds, but have stopped them all. I now am using relaxation, moderation, excercise, deep breathing, and some other tools. As a whole, they are working well. I can get through even the tough days, but must work at it always. I have excercises that I do from P.T. and hope to not need surgery. What do you do?

Oh, I don't have the same things as you. Endometriosis, vuvlvar vestibulitis, pelvic floor dysfunction, mostly problems that deal with muscle pain, not joint pain as you have. But I am assuming that the meds you were using were anti-inflammatory? (Which does a great job on both muscle and joint pain) they have now developed skin patches, so you don't get the digestive side-effects. Also, maybe you can look into opiods/opiates. they have none of the adverse side effects, except of course for the risk of addiction. Maybe you could discuss it with your doctor? Addiction risk is actually very low, especially for pain sufferers who are careful to communicate with their doctors. Most of the people who get addicted are the ones who were looking to get high in the first place. I think it's really sad that people overlook these meds just because of the bad image they have. I personally am looking into using those meds as painkillers, hopefully for a pregnancy, since those meds don't pose any of the dangers to a fetus. (Except of course for the risk of addiction, for which things can definitley be done - I've discussed this with a MFM doctor.) Also, have you tried going to a pain clinic? They know about all different kinds of med combinations, including which come as skin patches, which opiods could work for you, etc. The pain specialists at a pain clinic usually have much better knowlegde about different meds than a typical doctor, and may be able to find a way to get around the side effect problem you have. I don't have fibromyalgia, but my friend does. She had this great book that she swears by "Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Disorder" (which btw says that PT is very bad for fibro.) Hope this info helps. Wishing you pain-free days!

I have been on opiates in the form of patches. I was using them for a few years and kept going up and up because they, like all other pain meds, loose effect. I was also taking percocet for breakthough pain. After about 7 years, I started getting major abdominal sympotoms and could not stop throwing up and was nauseas all the time. I had just had my 11th abdominal surgery and was chosesh that the symptoms were from that. After a year of this, and six hospitalizations for over a week at a time, I went to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota because the doctors here could nt help me. They told me to go to the pan rehab clinic (a three week program for people with chronic pain, all types) and I went there and B"H got off all of my pain meds. I also learned many other tools and techniques to deal with the pain. B"H I am doing much better and functioning much better. My husband and children are so pleased... as am I. For any chronic illness, pain meds taken regularly pose a real problem. I was wondering what other people do with their pain and how it is dealt with.

Wow, I was under the impression that there was no ceiling dose for opiates - I was counting on it! Did you say your 11th surgery? Unvelievable - I've only heard of stat's like that for endometriosis. Looks like you've tried everything! BTW, if you had those pains only after your surgery, it's possible that you developed adhesions from the surgery. Some pelvic physical therapists can evaluate you to find out if you have adhesions, and can stretch the adhesions to alleviate the pain. I've actually had some success taking a bath using dead sea salts, which you can usually find at a health food store, but this only helps if your pain is due to inflamation - the salts kind of work like an anti-inflammatory med.

TO BH13: I have been taking opiates in the form of a patch plus Lortab for breakthrough pain for about 7 months. I was shocked to see that you had to have 11 abdominal surgeries -- can you tell me what caused this? Was it the use of the opiates? and, what disease/condition, specifically, did it cause? Please tell me all you can, because I have lately been having problems with nausea. Thank you and God bless.

Well, We did find that the nausea was caused by the opiates. They did not however cause the surgeries. I had 4 c-sections, 1 hysterectomy, 2 oopherectomies, 3 hernai repairs, and 1 surgery to remove adhesions from the mesh (related to the hernia operation). The opiates and percocet, vicodin, etc, were used for arthritis pain. I wish you a refuah Shlaimah and I strongly recommend seeking help from a place like the Mayo Clinic's Pain rehabilitation Center!I would be happy to speak to this if you are interested.

Hello! I have had fms for about a year and a half. I tried about 9 different meds; the only one that gave me pain relief also caused me irratic heart beats! So, I gave up my quest for meds!! I meditate and walk briskly 45 minutes a day as my doctor claims that exercise is the only proven help for fibromyalgia. I also believe one can learn to "block" out pain as we women were taught to do in lamaze. I also believe that a sense of humor and positive outlook do a great deal in lessening symptoms. I know myself that when I occasionally feel "down" my symptoms are worse. I am not saying it is easy to stay cheerful- I work hard at it! My husband is disabled and I am the sole financial provider despite my illness so this is not always easy. May Hashem give us all syata dishmaya and a refuah shelema!

QuoteOriginally posted by: BH613Well, We did find that the nausea was caused by the opiates. They did not however cause the surgeries. I had 4 c-sections, 1 hysterectomy, 2 oopherectomies, 3 hernai repairs, and 1 surgery to remove adhesions from the mesh (related to the hernia operation). The opiates and percocet, vicodin, etc, were used for arthritis pain. I wish you a refuah Shlaimah and I strongly recommend seeking help from a place like the Mayo Clinic's Pain rehabilitation Center!I would be happy to speak to this if you are interested.

i am somewhat confused here...were the surgeries for pain, or did they have nothing to do with the arthritis and other problems???b/c obviously the solution may differ according to the problems/symptoms....

You ask excellent questions. The surgeries were not directly related to the other chronic issues, but I still recommend the Mayo's Pain clinic. It has changed my life as well as my family's life. It is a matanah from Hakadosh Baruch Hu and one that I wish for all of you.Miriam

I have never tried hypnotherapy. At this time I am no pain medication and am doing fine. I use relaxation, deep breathing. moderation, humor, distraction, and some other techniques learned at the Mayo's pain rehab clinic.

Dr. Sarno's method does work for certain people and for certain types of pain. I had a herniated disc in my back in 1997 which he said I don't need surgery for- all I need to do is pay him $700, attend a series of lectures, read his book, and do the excersises.Well, $700 later and after spending 6 weeks in bed because I could not walk, I was finally convinced by a Neurologist and 2 Neurosurgeons that I needed the surgery.B"H after the surgery I was up and around in 2 weeks.

His main theory is that people in pain tend to repress their emotions, mostly anger, and turn it into physical pain.He claims that if you can just recognize that your mind is playing tricks with you, and does not want you to deal with difficult emotional issues, you can overcome the pain.

As I said, it works for some- I know 2 guys who swear by him- but others think he is a quack.

Alot of people have wrote on the board that they have gone to the mayo clinic pain managment inorder to learn how to deal with the pain or they have tried many different kinds of treatment.I would like to know what kind of insurance you have.I am looking to get new medical insurance I want to get one where I can see any doctor I want and if there is even one that will cover alternative therapies.Can anyone help me and give me some ideas?Thanks

I know it's been a while since you posted this but I have a question:I am on very high doses of pain meds now. However, because of my underlying medical condition, it doesn't get absorbed uniformly (meaning sometimes I can take a 20 mg pill and get 20 mgs of med and other times I can take the same 20 mg pill and none of it will get absorbed). Because it is so unpredictable, and because I am taking it for over 2 years, the dose keeps climbing and along with it all the nasty side effects...You mention a patch. That sounds like it would be absorbed through the skin? Is my assumption correct? If so, would you be able to give me the name of it?

THE BEST SOLUTION FOR CHRONIC JOINT AND MUSCLE PAIN IS A PATENTED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT FROM A REPUTABLE 21 YEAR OLD, $700 MILLION HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMPANY, CALLED MELALEUCA. THE PRODUCT IS CALLED REPLENEX (ONLY $10 MONTHLY- $80 VALUE). THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS PRODUCT AND ANYTHING YOU MAY FIND IN THE STORE. THIS WORKS. THE PRODUCT EVEN COMES WITH A 90-DAY EMPTY-BOTTLE MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. NO KNOWN NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS; NO DRUGS; NO RISK!

It is also important to learn how to deal with the pain through different tools. With a chronic illness, there will always be times that our body hurts! There is no way around that. The question is how to handle it.

Not a cent. I just feel that if I could be the shaliach to helping anyone else with pain, I would be helpful to that person. Hashem gave me such a matanah when the direction He sent me in was to the Mayo pain rehab center!Miriam

You mention a patch. That sounds like it would be absorbed through the skin? Is my assumption correct? If so, would you be able to give me the name of it?

I'm not sure what patch other ppl are talking about, but I was on a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for many yrs and found amazing relief thru it. Yes, a small amt of the med is absorbed thru the skin and the patch is usually only changed every 3 days. It eliminates the need for constantly worrying about when you can take your next pill and having severe pain if you're late for a dose. You should ask your Dr. aboout the patches -I hope this helps & Refuah Sheleima B'Karov!

QuoteOriginally posted by: Chaya Surie Also, maybe you can look into opiods/opiates. they have none of the adverse side effects, except of course for the risk of addiction. Maybe you could discuss it with your doctor? Addiction risk is actually very low, especially for pain sufferers who are careful to communicate with their doctors. Most of the people who get addicted are the ones who were looking to get high in the first place. I think it's really sad that people overlook these meds just because of the bad image they have. q]

I'm sorry Chaya Surie, I'm not trying to attack you, but I think that some of the above comments may be incorrect. It is wrong to say that opiates have no adverse side effects because it's not true. First of all, almost all meds have side effects (some have lower %) and secondly, opiates have many known side effects. These also include stomach problems such as gastroparesis, sleep disorders...

Next I disagree with the comments about addiction. According to webMD, "Some medications used to treat pain can be addictive. Addiction is different from physical dependence or tolerance, however. In cases of physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms occur when a substance suddenly is stopped. Tolerance occurs when the initial dose of a substance loses its effectiveness over time. Addiction and physical dependence often occur together...Opioids, a family of drugs that have effects similar to those of opium or morphine, can be addictive." I think it is wrong to say that ppl who become addicted were looking to get high. Although it may not be commonplace, there are many pts. who become addicted (not dependent) to opiods. Not because they want to do drugs or get high, but rather because they are trying to control pain that is unbearable. Unfortunately this sometimes leads to true addictive behaviors. BUT, that is not to say that all Opiates/Opiods are bad! People can take them for years and never get addicted. Like you mentioned, it is important to follow all of your Dr's instructions and take the meds exactly as directed. And, if you or a relative or friend is possibly addicted to prescription painkillers it is extremely important to get proffesional help immediately. If not, the consequences can be very damaging! I hope that whoever is having pain should find their personal shaliach towards helping to become pain free and have a refuah sheleima b'karov!!! Keep Davening

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